There's a lot to know before you plan your trip to visit Moab, Utah. Here are some highlights and tips from the several different times i've been. If you're looking to visit with a dog then please check out my other guide for more information on that.
Getting There
Moab isn't really close to any other major cities other than Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Denver; with SLC being the closest. Depending on what you want to do, your best bet might be flying into SLC to reduce your driving time, but if you want to see Colorado too, you can opt for DEN. A lot of people with more vacation time/retirement like to fly into Las Vegas and see the other National Parks in Utah before Moab. I've done the drive both from Las Vegas and from Denver, and they're really not that bad. If you're driving there from Denver, then it will take over 5 hours. Add extra drive time if it's during rush hour from the city or if there is any snow or accidents in the mountains along I-70; keep in mind it can still be snowing in May, sometimes randomly in June in Colorado, so I-70 is unpredictable. One of my visits in April we drove through a snowstorm in the Breckenridge/Vail area before finally getting out of it in the Glenwood Springs region. Good stopping points along the way are Rifle State Park, Colorado National Monument in Grand junction, and Glenwood Springs Canyon (hanging lake hike is here but you need to get a permit on recreation.gov).
Canyonlands National Park
You'll see this park as you're driving to Moab (if you're driving south from the north into the town of Moab) and it's the ideal place for sunrise hiking since it has Mesa Arch (famed for golden sunrise views). You want a hike that faces the east for sunrise so you can capture the light as it rises and reflects on the rock formations; sunrise here is very soft, dramatic, and beautiful. It was the most breathtaking sunrise i've ever seen, just expect there to be a crowd! We went on a friday morning in late april and we arrived at 6am to the arch and couldn't get a spot inside the arch - we spoke to others and some of them arrived at 4am to claim their spot with their tripods and cameras; this was during covid times though, so hopefully things have calmed down since then. However, quickly after the sunrise, the arch clears up and you can take some stunning photos within moments after the initial rise is over. Sunrise is best for photography because morning air is clearer and cooler, so more visibility, less wind, and it's colder than the sunset; you also wont get as longer of shadows.
Here's a fun dose of reality vs instagram at Mesa Arch around 6am"
Arches National Park
Arches is best explored during the early morning or evenings. At night, this place lights up with stars and views that are breathtaking. One of the most photographed arches is called Delicate Arch, and it's a moderate hike. It is about 3 miles and the trailhead is almost always full, so arrive early if you can! Check regulations, but you may need a permit to enter the park depending on the time of year, check recreation.gov.
Astrophotography and Stargazing
Utah is the place to be to see dark skies with very low chance of cloud coverage/rainfall, make sure to go on a new moon phase to get the best potential for milky way viewing. La Sal Lookout Point is a wonderful drive up spot for a scenic night shot, just remember there will be lots of cars driving through, so you may have to be patient with your long-exposure night shots. If you're brave enough, try hiking Delicate Arch at night for some stunning shots; we were not about that. Salt Flats Recreation Campsite is also full of unique opportunities to capture the scenery right outside your tent. The slick rock makes for really interesting and contrasting shots.
Things to Do in and around Moab
There is no shortage of cool things to do while you're on a trip to Moab, Utah. Some of the more popular hikes are in the national parks obviously, but there are some that are less trafficked and also stunning ones you can find. Use AllTrails and filter on whatever it is you're looking for in a hike (dog-friendly, waterfall, shade, etc.). I'll list some activities that I enjoyed (or didn't) during many visits to the desert.
Mountain Biking
One of the most popular activities in Moab is to mountain bike! I had never tried it before, but had such a blast. I will say that I go to indoor cycling a lot while i'm home and I used to have a road bike that I used to get around the city when I lived in Baltimore. I am familiar with gear shifting for uphill/downhill, and i'd say that experience helped to ensure I didn't tire out. If it's your first time, I recommend getting a guide like we did.
Kayaking
We did SUP though the scenic Colorado river, but i would not recommend this. Instead, switch to a kayak because the current does not actually move or flow, so a paddleboard requires too much effort vs a kayak where you can gain distance a lot quicker. The company we rented SUPs from also refused to help us transport them back so we had to deflate them in the hot sun after enduring hours on the slow river and try to get them to fit into my MINI cooper; it was a disaster and we hated it!
Moab Hiking
Obviously hiking is one of the main things to do here. Use AllTrails to search for hikes within the park you want to go to as well one that meets the filters you need (mileage length, elevation gain, dog-friendly, etc.) Some of my favorites were Delicate arch, Corona arch, Mill creek falls, and Professor Creek & Mary Jane Canyon. If you have a dog, be aware that Fisher towers trail is very difficult to complete with a dog due to a steep ladder/drop at the end. Check out my Moab Dog Guide here.
Rappelling Tours in Moab
I'm not a climber by any means, but we really enjoyed climbing in Moab with a guide; it was so much fun and safe! We got to have a small group with a professional guide teach us to climb 2 sections then rappel down 2 other sections along our hike for the day. It was a unique way to experience Moab and i'd highly recommend it even if you aren't an avid climber! Our guide was so knowledgable about all things Moab, so we loved asking him questions about his life there and learning more about local culture. We got some amazing videos and photos too. Here are some photos from 2 of the climbing sections and one of the second rappelling areas, and of course Funnel arch!
Where to Stay when Visiting Moab
There a number of hotels along the main road in downtown Moab, but honestly they are very expensive for what you get because there is high demand, but short supply. I also didn't see that many airbnbs available either. Instead, opt for the cheap campsites or free dispersed camping on BLM land. We stayed one night in a hotel (Quality Inn which was dog-friendly) and then camped at Sand Flats Recreation area (first come, first serve), but we definitely could have camped both nights as there are plenty of showers to rent/use throughout the town. We arrived to the campsite around 1030AM on a friday during the first weekend of May and saw plenty of open campsites and quickly claimed ours! We felt pretty safe in Moab, there are so many young people in their twenties/thirties out with friends adventuring.
If you must stay at a hotel, i've had good experiences staying twice at this dog-friendly one here.
Downtown Moab
There's not much here to be honest. You can definitely enjoy some food while you're there as there are decent restaurants. I regularly return to Sweet Cravings Bakery Bistro for their delicious sandwiches. Take some time to walk around or shower while you're here
Tips
1. The best time to hike is early morning or in the evening due to the sun being so strong. I ended up getting heat exhaustion the last day of the trip due to how hot it was, and the lack of shade. During the middle of the day, try to go inside to eat somewhere or find a shady spot by the Colorado river to put up a hammock and hide from the sun.
2. Visit during the week days if you can. (Traffic is insane here due to construction in the last few years!) they often keep one of the two lanes closed each way and that creates horrendous backups and delays.The crowds on the road leading into the town from the north were insane. We waited an over an hour on a Thursday afternoon to drive only 15 minutes.
3. Visit the Aquatic Center in town for a shower to wash off that desert dust! Bring your own towel though as they charge for them during COVID times. It was pretty affordable to shower quickly here and it's a must when you're covered in "desert dust!"
4. Refill your water for free at Matrimony Springs. Right outside of downtown is a "natural" water fountain to refill your water bottles. It comes directly from the La Sal mountains and it's a cool natural feature that you'll see lots of people using in the town. You can just pull over and refill your water jugs here!
